The SNP defence spokesman Brendan O’Hara added: “We would welcome the debate. We would never turn down the opportunity to debate Trident and I hope that Jeremy can bring his party to order.”

Mr Fallon last night insisted no decision has yet been made on Trident renewal.

“We’ve not set a date yet for endorsement of the move to replace our existing Vanguard submarines,” the defence minister added after talks with a Polish ministerial delegation in Edinburgh. Although we expect that vote to take place some time this year, we’ve not set a particular date for it.”

Mr Corbyn has been a vociferous campaigner for unilateral disarmament but his party’s policy is still pro-Trident renewal at a UK level.

Many of Mr Corbyn’s parliamentary Labour Party are Trident supporters, believing in multi-lateral disarmament, a position that favours delaying getting rid of nuclear weapons until other countries agree to ditch their missiles.

In the meantime, Mr Corbyn has appointed Emily Thornberry, his new shadow defence secretary and anti-Trident campaigner, as head of a review that will determine Labour’s defence policy.

At the weekend, the confusion over Labour’s defence policy came in for more criticism when Mr Corbyn suggested there could be a “third way” on Trident.

In an attempt to reassure unions concerned about defence job losses, he said the building of new submarines could go ahead without them being armed with nuclear warheads.